Arsenal Season 2010/11

[Dodomeki]

Arsenal players Jack Wilshere, Johan Djourou and Denilson apologise for Champions League defeat to Braga

After Arsène Wenger had furiously pointed an accusing finger at Uefa, the match officials and even the Braga players following Tuesday’s shock defeat, there was only remorse and candour on Wednesday from his Arsenal squad.

Apology: Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere said he could not believe his side lost their Champions League clash away at Sporting Braga on Tuesday Photo: AP

By Jeremy Wilson 7:00AM GMT 25 Nov 2010

Johan Djourou admitted that it would be a “disaster” if Arsenal now failed to qualify for the knockout phase of the Champions League, while Jack Wilshere and Denilson both issued public apologies for losing against a team languishing in 10th place in the Portuguese league.

Wilshere’s message came via his Twitter account. “I would like to apologise to all the supporters, especially the ones that travelled, for the result,” he said. “I still can’t get my head around how we can lose this game after dominating for so long.”

Denilson was also humbled by a defeat that means Arsenal now have only a remote chance of topping Group H and must still beat Partizan Belgrade at the Emirates to be sure of progressing as runners-up. The anger at the Braga result has been compounded by a similar second-half capitulation against Tottenham last Saturday.

“We lost concentration for a couple of moments late in the game, and they scored twice,” said Denilson. “For the fans, I am very sorry for this match and the last game as well.” That Arsenal should be facing uncertainty about their progress is scarcely believable given that they began this Champions League campaign with three straight wins and a record number of goals.

Yet consecutive away defeats in the Ukraine and Portugal have threatened a proud record of qualifying for at least the last-16 of the competition in each of the past 10 seasons. With expectations having risen accordingly, failure at this stage is unthinkable. “If Arsenal does not go to the knockout stages it’s a disaster and I think that shouldn’t happen,” said Djourou.

“You hate to lose. It’s very difficult to take and, if you look at the games, the way we lost is not great. It’s very difficult to swallow. We had the game under control. It’s very frustrating to concede two goals on the counter attack. That shouldn’t happen and I don’t understand how it happened. We should have killed the game before.”

The result in Portugal was Arsenal’s sixth defeat already this season, although there is consolation in the fact that the inconsistency of others has helped ensure that they still have realistic chances in all four major competitions. Djourou accepts that the team’s mental strength will now be questioned and believes that it is for the players to stand up and take responsibility.

“We’ve been together now for a long time and we know what we should do on the pitch and we’re big enough to take responsibility,” he said. “We want to win a trophy; that’s the main focus of the team. We have the quality to do it - it’s just how much we want it. But we are big enough to stand up for ourselves and be ready for the next game.” That next game is on Saturday against Aston Villa, when Arsenal will be without both Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Eboué following injuries against Braga on Tuesday.

Fabregas had only risked his hamstring after a late fitness test and suffered the injury when lunging for the ball midway through the second half. He was able to walk normally from the pitch, although Wenger fears losing his captain for up to three weeks. A more definitive timescale is due today when the results of the scan on Fabregas’s hamstring will be known.

Eboué has medial knee ligament damage, but there is hope that it is only a strain rather than a tear and that he will also return in time for the busy Christmas schedule of matches. On a more positive note, both Aaron Ramsey and Manuel Almunia should soon come back into first-team contention after each playing 45 minutes for the reserves.

Can Arsenal survive without Cesc?

Arsenal with and without Fabregas since 2007-08 (Premier League only)
With Fabregas playing

• Games: 91
• Average goals for: 2.16
• Average goals against: 0.99
• Win percentage: 63

Without Fabregas playing

• Games: 37
• Average goals for: 1.51
• Average goals against: 0.92
• Win percentage: 49

 

[Dodomeki]

Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas sidelined for three weeks with fresh hamstring injury, says Arsène Wenger

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas could be out of action for up to three weeks after injuring his hamstring in the side's Champions League defeat by Braga, manager Arsène Wenger has said.

Bitter blow: Cesc Fabregas faces another spell in the treatment room after injuring his hamstringPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

By Telegraph staff and agencies 4:37AM GMT 24 Nov 2010

Fabregas was substituted in the 69th minute of the 2-0 loss in Portugal with his team-mate Emmanuel Eboué also suffering a knee injury. "Eboué will be out for a while and we will have to asses Fabregas tomorrow (Wednesday)," Wenger said after the match.

"It could be two to three weeks. It is a hamstring injury – on the other leg – so it's difficult to predict how long Cesc will be out for.

"It is very disappointing because I had a hesitation to play him (Fabregas) before the match started. I took the gamble and it backfired on us." When asked if the Spanish international would miss the weekend fixture against Aston Villa, Wenger added: "Yes, definitely."

Besides the double injury setback, Wenger was left incensed by the performans of last night's officials who he branded "useless" for denying Arsenal a second-half penalty when Carlos Vela was fouled by Alberto Rodriguez but was awarded a booking rather than a spot-kick.

And just minutes later the London side found themselves down to 10 men following a late challenge by Brazilian Matheus which left fullback Eboué facing a spell on the sidelines with medial ligament damage. "It is difficult to understand how we did not get a penalty," Wenger said. "The five referees is not an answer to the problem. We have another proof that it is absolutely useless, this system.

"The turning point was the penalty – I still cannot understand how Vela got a yellow card. It remains a complete mystery." While Arsenal never really hit top gear, Wenger was less than impressed by the behaviour of his team who had beaten Brage 6-0 in the an earlier fixture.

Moreover, the result means Arsenal, who before last night needed just a point to reach the Champions League knockout stage, will have to match Braga's result against Shakhtar when they face Partisan Belgrade at home in a fortnight.

 

[Dodomeki]

Arsène Wenger accuses Braga of kicking Emmanuel Eboué out of Arsenal's Champions League clash

Arsène Wenger accused Braga of deliberately kicking Emmanuel Eboue out of the game and confirmed that Cesc Fabregas would miss Saturday’s match against Aston Villa with a new hamstring injury.

Stretchered off: Emmanuel Eboue injured his medial ligaments in Arsenal's 2-0 defeat to Braga in the Champions League on Tuesday Photo: ACTION IMAGES

By Jeremy Wilson 7:30AM GMT 24 Nov 2010 Jeremy's Twitter

Clearly furious, Wenger also condemned Braga’s tactics but admitted that Arsenal had again lost their concentration by conceding twice in the final eight minutes of the match. “Eboue has been kicked off the park without any punishment,” said Wenger. “He has a medial ligament strain, so he's out for a few weeks. It will be while.

“As for Cesc - it's a hamstring injury on the other leg to the injury he had earlier in the season and it's hard to say how long he'll be out for. He'll definitely miss the weekend game. We will have to assess him. “It could be two to three weeks. It is very disappointing because I had a hesitation to play him before the match started. I took the gamble and it backfired on us.”

Arsenal managed just one shot on target during the entire match, but Wenger particularly highlighted Braga’s negative approach. “It was a difficult game against a team that tried to slow the game down,” he said. “We played against a team who refused to play and tried to catch us on the counter attack. They used every single trick in the book to slow the game down. We could play 10 matches like that and win eight or nine times, but this was the one we didn't."

The defeat means that Arsenal’s hopes of progressing to the last 16 of the Champions League will rest on the final round of matches when they will play Partizan Belgrade a fortnight from Wednesday. “We made a mistake, a lack of concentration and communication, and were punished for it,” said Wenger. “We were not sharp enough to create clear-cut chances.

Saturday's result against Tottenham had no knock-on effect because I had seven players who did not play. I think we had enough on the pitch to make a goal, but football is like that when the other team focuses not to play. “It is hard to swallow, but now we have to win our last game. The most important thing for us now is to qualify. It is good that Shakhtar play against Braga, but they are the super favourites to win the group.”

 

[Dodomeki]

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger set for reunion with old friend Gérard Houllier and former player Robert Pires

When Arsène Wenger surveys both the Aston Villa dugout and team-sheet at lunchtime on Saturday, he could be forgiven for doing a double-take.

Reunion: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will meet up with former player Robert Pires (left) and Gerard Houllier when his side visit Aston Villa on SaturdayPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

By Jeremy Wilson and Sandy Macaskill 10:30PM GMT 26 Nov 2010

Wenger had never expected his good friend and compatriot Gérard Houllier to return to front-line management after leaving Lyon in 2007, while no Arsenal fan is ever likely to get used to the sight of Robert Pires in an opposition shirt.

Yet it was Wenger who provided Pires with his unlikely route back to the Premier League by allowing him to train with Arsenal before then recommending him to Houllier. “I had Gerard on the phone to see how Robert was physically and I told him only good information,” said Wenger. “What will I say to Robert? 'I’m happy to see you, but be quiet today’.

I wasn’t surprised he went to Villa because I saw what he is doing in training and he is the type of player who can help any team in the Premier League.” The possibility of Pires making his home debut his been heightened by Marc Albrighton’s appendicitis and, while it is understood that he would not celebrate scoring, he is acutely aware of where his loyalties must lie.

“It will bring back memories,” said Pires, “I’m sorry for Arsenal but Aston Villa need to win.” Pires left Arsenal in the aftermath of the Champions League final in 2006 when he was controversially substituted after just 18 minutes following Jens Lehmann’s sending off.

Although Pires still believes that Wenger made the wrong decision, he also stresses that one incident cannot outweigh six years in which he won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and produced enough individual quality to have been voted Arsenal’s sixth greatest ever player.

In Houllier, Wenger is also competing against an old ally today. “We enjoy spending time together, not just talking about football — he’s been a friend, part of your universe, part of your life,” said Houllier. Even so, Wenger was surprised that Houllier chose to leave his job at the French Football Federation for the stresses and strains of the Premier League.

Wenger, of course, was working in England when Houllier, who was then the Liverpool manager, was rushed to hospital for open heart surgery the day before he was due to be flying to the Ukraine for a European fixture against Dynamo Kiev. “If that had happened one day later then he is a dead man,” said Wenger. “But, for a while, you are not the same person and it certainly damaged his potential to finish the job that he had started so well at Liverpool.”

Asked if it had reminded him of his own mortality, Wenger said: “I take it on board. I am ready to give everything to be successful in football. I am not the kind of person who can be half-in and half-out. I know it does not help health wise but I have no other way to do it. You can say of every manager 'he is crazy’ and we are all right.”

 

[Baimi]

Final score Aston Villa 2 Arsenal 4
Sway! I buy 2-3, no luck betting on Arsenal game.
Final seconds of the game Jack Wilshere scored.

 

[Dodomeki]

Clinical Arsenal go top after win at Villa


Clinical Arsenal go top after win at Villa

27 November 2010

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Aston Villa midfielder Robert Pires (left) vies with Arsenal´s Alex Song during the English Premier League football match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Arsenal swept into first place in the Premier League after a 4-2 victory against Villa.

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LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal swept into first place in the Premier League after a 4-2 victory against Aston Villa on Saturday. Arsene Wenger's side moved one point clear of Chelsea and Manchester United thanks to goals from Andrey Arshavin, Samir Nasri, Marouane Chamakh and Jack Wilshere.

Russian winger Arshavin opened the scoring in the 39th minute when he capitalised on poor defending to beat Brad Friedel with a low shot from just inside the penalty area.
Nasri increased Arsenal's lead six minutes later as the French midfielder's volley from Arshavin's cross gave Friedel no chance.

Ciaran Clark's 52nd minute strike briefly gave Villa some hope before Morocco forward Chamakh poked in the third goal moments later. Clark scored again from close-range in the 70th minute but Wilshere sealed the points with a diving header in stoppage time.

It was the perfect end to a traumatic week for Arsenal, who crashed 2-0 at Braga in the Champions League just days after blowing a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to north London rivals Tottenham.

Arsenal's reign at the top may be short-lived however as Manchester United can move into pole position with a win over Blackburn later on Saturday, while Chelsea will reclaim first place if they beat Newcastle on Sunday.

 

[Dodomeki]

Wenger: No favourites for Carling Cup


Wenger: No favourites for Carling Cup

1 December 2010

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Arsene Wenger has refused to concede that Arsenal are now favourites for the Carling Cup following Manchester United's shock exit.

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Arsene Wenger has refused to concede that Arsenal are now favourites for the Carling Cup following Manchester United's shock exit. Arsenal breezed into the semi-finals with a 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic on Tuesday, while United were stunned 4-0 at West Ham United.

The Gunners went ahead on the stroke of half-time courtesy of Latics captain Antolin Alcaraz's own goal, and striker Nicklas Bendtner sealed the victory with a close-range effort in the 67th minute. United's exit means Arsenal will join West Ham and two of Birmingham City, Aston Villa, Ipswich Town and West Bromwich Albion in the semi-finals.

Despite Arsenal being considered the strongest of the remaining sides, Wenger said the Gunners cannot afford to take anything for granted. "Maybe on paper we'll be the favourites, but this game, especially the (English) Premier League, is very surprising," Wenger told the BBC.

"You need to perform against every single team, because even if you are the favourite you're not guaranteed anything." "I said at the start of the season we'd go for all of the competitions. Of course there are some bigger trophies but for us it is important to do well in every competition."

"The way (to the final) is not far now, but the semi-final will be a different game." Wigan boss Roberto Martinez felt that Latics had shown character throughout the tournament, but rued 19-year-old striker Victor Moses' dislocated shoulder injury. "Today we worked extremely hard. I felt that we restricted Arsenal a lot," Martinez said.

"But obviously it was disappointing that the first goal was an own goal from a corner. Those are the key moments." "Looking back at the competition, we played a lot of great football and we got into the quarter-finals. Now we need to bring that into the Premier League."

"Victor Moses is the negative, that's what being in two competitions brings you." "But it's not good for us to feel sorry for ourselves. Now we need to prepare for Saturday (against Stoke City in the Premier League), which is a massive, massive game."

 

[Dodomeki]

Wenger rules out January transfers


Wenger rules out January transfers

1 December 2010

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will not be looking to add players to his squad when the transfer window opens on January 1.

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will not be looking to add players to his squad when the transfer window opens on January 1. With only a month until the start of the new transfer season, rumours are already beginning to circulate about potential targets for the Premier League's third-placed side.

But Wenger insists he is happy with the squad he has and believes his current crop of players are capable of returning the Premier League title to north London. "My policy is to stick to the squad I have, we will not be on the market," said Wenger. "I want to keep my squad and I want to continue with these players. We will not be on the market unless we lose some."

One player who will return to the Emirates Stadium in January is midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who has just begun a short-term loan stint with Championship outfit Nottingham Forest.

Ramsey, 19, is still on the comeback trail after breaking his leg against Stoke in February, and Wenger said the loan deal was the perfect way for the young Welshman to regain full fitness before he returns to the Gunners.

"He is fit but not competitively match-fit," said Wenger. "I left him the choice to go where he wanted. There are seven games before January when he comes back and I thought that is the best way."

"I decided to give him a run in the Championship and if he manages to play four or five out of the seven he will be fit to play for us." "We were a bit pushed by the deadline. To do it before Christmas we had to do it last week so I rushed a bit my decision but it was the only opportunity."

 

[Dodomeki]

Arsenal goes top after Chelsea stumbles again

Steve Douglas, The Associated Press
9 hours, 48 minutes ago

LONDON - Arsenal climbed above Manchester United to the top of the Premier League on Saturday thanks to Samir Nasri's spectacular double in a 2-1 win over Fulham.

With United's match at Blackpool postponed because of a frozen pitch, previous leader Chelsea and Arsenal — who were both two points adrift in joint second — knew wins could send them provisionally into first place.

Chelsea wasted its chance by only drawing 1-1 at home to Everton, the Blues' fourth match without a victory, and Arsenal took advantage at Emirates Stadium.
<table class="ad_slug_table" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="center">
</td></tr></tbody></table>Nasri opened the scoring in the 14th minute and the in-form France midfielder then grabbed the winner with 15 minutes remaining for his 11th goal of the season in all competitions. "It was a combination of touch, intelligence, special talent and calmness as well," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said of Nasri's two finishes.

Arsenal is one point above United, which is a point clear of stuttering Chelsea. The defending champions have only won once in the league since the end of October and were booed off by their fans after Jermaine Beckford equalized in the 86th for Everton.

Carlos Tevez scored the winner as Manchester City beat Bolton 1-0 to stay fourth, and three points off the pace.

Fifth-place Tottenham drew 1-1 at Birmingham and is three points behind City.

Nasri has been given added responsibility this season with fellow playmaker Cesc Fabregas struggling with fitness problems but the France international is responding with his best run of form for the London club. "Many people questioned me when I took him here but he is showing that he is an exceptional talent and I think there is more to come from him," Wenger said.

Nasri had a cutting edge against Fulham that his teammates lacked, putting the hosts ahead by running onto Andrey Arshavin's pass, dummying past two defenders and rifling a shot into the roof of the net.

Senegal striker Diomansy Kamara equalized for Fulham in the 30th, taking advantage of a clash of heads between Arsenal centre backs Sebastien Squillaci and Laurent Koscielny that forced the latter out of the game with a concussion, but Nasri's eighth of the campaign won it for the Gunners.

Substitute Robin van Persie squared the ball to Nasri, who showed sublime skills to go round goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, spin and shoot home from a tight angle. The win left Wenger again answering questions about whether Arsenal finally has the maturity to win the title.

"We are good enough to go on, that is for sure," he said. "We have the spirit, we have the quality but we face tough opponents. And it will be down, as I have said already many times here, to consistency."

Chelsea welcomed back captain John Terry and midfielder Michael Essien but still looked vulnerable. The Blues have taken just five points from a possible 18 in their last six matches and could easily have lost to Everton, which dominated the final stages.

Didier Drogba gave Chelsea the lead with a penalty in the 42nd minute, the striker's seventh goal of the season, after Nicolas Anelka had been sent tumbling by visiting goalkeeper Tim Howard. After Jack Rodwell hit the post for Everton, Beckford secured a point with his 86th-minute header and Chelsea walked off the pitch to boos from the home crowd.

"I am disappointed and angry," Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said. "Not just because of the result. We played good football in the first half and the second half was totally different. We played the long ball. We were a little bit scared. I didn't like this.

"I am worried yes, because we haven't won a lot of games. The second half was totally wrong." The top four are separated by just three points thanks to 10-man City's narrow win over local rival Bolton, courtesy of Tevez's 10th goal of the season.

The Argentina striker was set free by Yaya Toure through the middle and drilled a shot into the corner for City's first at home goal since October. City wasted a number of chances to increase the lead and then had left back Aleksandar Kolarov sent off in the 79th after picking up his second yellow card.

Mario Balotelli and David Silva both hit the framework for City in the second half, while Bolton nearly equalized in the 71st following an error by goalkeeper Joe Hart, but Vincent Kompany cleared off the line. City manager Roberto Mancini said his strikers need to improve their finishing if the team is to stay in title contention.

"We are too selfish (in front of goal)," Mancini said. "We had maybe 15 chances to score. When you have a lot of chances you think the game is easy. You shoot when it is better to pass the ball. We must improve this situation."

Spurs lost ground as Craig Gardner's 81st-minute goal denied them all three points at St. Andrew's. The midfielder ran onto Nikola Zigic's downward header and nodded home from eight yards to deny Spurs a fourth straight league win. The visitors had gone ahead in the 19th minute when Cameroon defender Sebastien Bassong scored from close range after Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster flapped at a free kick.

Blackburn bounced back from its 7-1 defeat to Manchester United last weekend by beating Wolverhampton 3-0 thanks to goals by David Dunn, Brett Emerton and Ryan Nelsen. Wolves went bottom because of the loss. In the day's other game, Wigan twice came from behind to draw with Stoke 2-2.

Danny Collins' own goal cancelled out Robert Huth's opener and although Matthew Etherington restored Stoke's lead, Tom Cleverley's deflected shot gave third-bottom Wigan a point.

 

[jw5]

The 2 goals scored by Samir Nasri against Fulham were superb, absolutely world class.

 

[Dodomeki]

Double injury blow for Arsenal

6 December 2010

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Arsenal have received a double blow with centre-backs Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny ruled out until January.

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Arsenal have received a double blow with centre-backs Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny ruled out until January. Vermaelen has been out of action since September due to an Achilles tendon injury sustained on Euro 2012 qualifying duty for Belgium.

Some reports had suggested that the 25-year-old was nearing a return to first-team football, but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed that he expects to be without the defender until the start of 2011. "Vermaelen is in a (protective) boot," Wenger said.

"We want him back and I hope he will be back soon, but not before January." Vermaelen's delayed return has been compounded by a concussion sustained by Koscielny in Arsenal's 2-1 win over Fulham on Saturday.

The Frenchman was stretched off after a clash of heads and is also set for a spell on the sidelines as a result. "The medical team inform me he (Koscielny) has picked up concussion and could be out for three weeks," Wenger added.

Arsenal face Partizan Belgrade at the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League on Wednesday.

 

[Dodomeki]

Arsenal, Roma, Shakhtar complete last 16 line-up


Arsenal, Roma, Shakhtar complete last 16 line-up

By Kevin Fylan
22:09 GMT, Wed 8 Dec 2010

LONDON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Arsenal, Roma and Shakhtar Donetsk completed a heavyweight line-up for the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday, shrugging off closing-night nerves as the final round of matches was marred by crowd trouble in Slovakia.

Arsenal took the lead thanks to a Robin van Persie penalty but were pegged back early in the second half and needed goals from Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri to secure a 3-1 win at home to Partizan Belgrade and squeeze through in second spot in Group H.

Shakhtar kept Braga at bay before striking twice in the second half for a 2-0 home win that was enough for them to take first place ahead of Arsenal, while Roma held on for a drab 1-1 draw at CFR Cluj to qualify behind Bayern Munich in Group F.

Surprises were thin on the ground in the group phase and the draw for the last 16, to be held on Dec. 17, will feature the might of European club soccer. Absent from the draw will be Zilina and Spartak Moscow, whose Group F game in Slovakia was held up for 20 minutes when fans launched a firecracker on to the pitch.

Bayern, Chelsea, Olympique Marseille, Real Madrid and AC Milan had already secured their places heading into Wednesday's final matches. Chelsea, going through a sticky patch in the Premier League, were beaten 1-0 at Olympique Marseille through a Brandao goal nine minutes from time but while the result may provide further concerns for coach Carlo Ancelotti it had no bearing on Group F.

The English side were already assured of qualifying top ahead of their French opponents. On the other side of the draw, FC Copenhagen claimed the last available place by beating Panathinaikos on Tuesday.

Already qualified for the last 16 from Groups A-D were Tottenham Hotspur, holders Inter Milan, Schalke 04, Olympique Lyon, Manchester United, Valencia and Barcelona.

The most emphatic winners on the final night of Champions League action before 2011 were Real Madrid, who helped themselves to a 4-0 win over Auxerre in Group G with a hat-trick from Karim Benzema and one from Cristiano Ronaldo.

The result snuffed out Auxerre hopes of a Europa League place, with Ajax Amsterdam clinching that with a 2-0 win away to a second-string AC Milan side in Frank de Boer's first game in temporary charge.

Bayern also enjoyed themselves in a 3-0 win over Basel, Franck Ribery getting two of the goals as the Bavarians underlined their superiority in Group E.

The competition returns with the last 16 knockout stage from February.

 

[Dodomeki]

Arsenal prepare to reward France midfielder Samir Nasri for his superb form with a new five-year contract

Arsenal are preparing a new five-year contract offer for Samir Nasri that would see him join Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Andrei Arshavin among the club’s highest earners.

New deal: Samir Nasri will be offered a new five-year, £80,000-a-week contract Photo: GETTY IMAGES

By Jeremy Wilson 7:15AM GMT 07 Dec 2010

Nasri has been arguably the outstanding player in the entire Premier League so far this season and there is a growing hope at Arsenal that he will soon join the core of the squad who have already committed themselves to Arsène Wenger’s long-term vision.

Preliminary talks have already been held, with Nasri’s recent form certainly perfectly timed in terms of his negotiating position. At 23, he is now entering his prime and his 11 goals already this season are already his highest return since joining from Marseille in 2008 for £15.8 million.

The expectation is that Nasri will be offered — and agree — an extension to his contract from 2012 until 2015 and a salary increase to around £80,000-a-week. Further talks are also imminent with both Gaël Clichy and Arshavin, whose contracts expire in 2012.

Since the arrival of Ivan Gazidis as chief executive in 2009, Arsenal have been particularly proactive in persuading their existing players to agree longer-term contracts, with the club focusing most of their revenues on preserving Wenger’s young squad rather than making expensive new signings.

Crucial to the club’s strong financial position has been their success in reaching at least the last 16 of the Champions League for 10 consecutive seasons, but they must beat Partizan Belgrade at the Emirates on Wednesday night to be sure of extending that record.

After suffering concussion in the 2-1 win against Fulham on Saturday, Laurent Koscielny is not expected in Wednesday’s squad, leaving Sébastien Squillaci and Johan Djourou as the only fit and available senior centre-backs.

Djourou missed virtually the whole of last season with a knee injury but, in the current absence of Thomas Vermaelen, the Switzerland international has been the most impressive of Arsenal’s remaining centre-backs. Wenger, though, has been careful to rotate his defenders and not overburden Djourou after such a serious injury.

“From the start of the season Johan has gone from strength to strength and on Saturday, in the difficult period when we had to defend in the air, he was dominant,” said Wenger. “He has not only shown dominance but personality.”

 

[Dodomeki]

Almunia eying Spanish return


Almunia eying Spanish return

10 December 2010

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Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is keen to return to Spain in the January transfer window, according to his agent.

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(GSM) - Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is keen to return to Spain in the January transfer window, according to his agent.

Almunia has been sidelined with an elbow injury since September, and the Spaniard's number one keeper slot has apparently been granted to his previous understudy Lukasz Fabianski.

The 33-year-old has come under heavy criticism after some errors cost his team vital points and although he once considered switching nationalities to be eligible for England, his career has seemingly stalled at the Emirates.

And despite being in negotiations with the London club, Almunia is targeting a return to his country of birth, according to his agent Joseba Diaz.

Diaz told the Daily Mirror: "We have not finished negotiations (with Arsenal), but it is clear that Manuel wants to return to Spain."

Primera Division strugglers Málaga have been linked with a move for the former Albacete, Celta de Vigo and Recreativo Huelva keeper.

 

[Dodomeki]

Park goal earns Man United 1-0 win over Arsenal


Park goal earns Man United 1-0 win over Arsenal

Manchester United's Ji-Sung Park, second right, celebrates with fellow team members after scoring a goal against Arsenal during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2010.

The Associated Press
Monday, December 13, 2010; 5:17 PM

MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United moved into the Premier League lead, beating Arsenal 1-0 Monday night on Park Ji-sung's goal in the 41st minute.

Manchester United (9-0-7) has 34 points, two more than Arsenal (10-5-2) and Manchester City (9-3-5) and three ahead of Chelsea (9-4-4).

Wayne Rooney sent a penalty kick high and wide for United in the 73rd minute after Gael Clichy was called for a hand ball in the penalty area.

Wojciech Szczesny, a 20-year-old Polish goalkeeper, made his Premier League debut for the Gunners and pulled off several difficult saves, including a spectacular stop to deny Rooney in the 85th minute.

 

[Dodomeki]

Arsenal need to stop playing such flashy football and focus on winning, says Samir Nasri

Samir Nasri has called on his Arsenal team-mates to stop worrying about playing "pretty football".

Nitty gritty: Samir Nasri says Arsenal need to chagne their point of focus if they have any hope of winning the title Photo: ACTION IMAGES

By Telegraph staff 10:37AM GMT 15 Dec 2010

The midfielder, whose exceptional run of form yesterday saw him named French Footballer of the Year, was part of the Arsenalside that lost 1-0 to Manchester United on Monday night.

As a result of their loss, Nasri has suggested too many of his team-mates are preoccupied with playing fancy football and instead need to focus on getting the win - stylishly or not.

"Goals and flamboyant football don't pose a problem for me," Nasri told The Sun. "The essential thing, though, is my team wins and we're in it at the end. "Sometimes you have to store away your flashy clothes in the cupboard and work for the team.

"It was more of a tactical game against United, where you had to defend a lot. Patrice Evra was attacking well and combining well with Ji-Sung Park. "We were much more adventurous in the second half, given the fact we also had to respond after they took the lead.

"In the first half, we sat back and waited for them a bit. We didn't want to push too high up, because they always find each other in space, whether it's Park or Wayne Rooney playing on his own up front. "We wanted to sit back and wait for them and we held out well until we conceded the goal four minutes from half-time.

We came back into the match and had one or two chances to score but, unfortunately, just couldn't do it." Meanwhile, Nasri's team-mate Andrei Arshavin believes the squad must quickly forget about the defeat at Old Trafford and focus on this weekend's fixture against Stoke.

A lot has been written about Arsenal's inability to deliver a big performance when it really matters, but with United not playing Chelsea until Sunday, victory over Tony Pulis' side will see Arsenal return to the Premier League summit. "There is no time to be melancholy or sad. We need to forget this defeat and start thinking about the next match," the Russian said.

"We need to prepare properly for each opponent. The championship is very interesting this year and nothing has been lost yet. We didn't deserve defeat (at Old Trafford). The match was a battle. Both teams fought for the result and unfortunately we lost. "I think Manchester United had more luck than us during the game, but we were not able to create anything special near their goal.

"We didn't play for a draw. We simply acted responsibly in defence and looked for our chances to attack. "If it wasn't for a fortunate bounce at the end of the first half, we would have gone in at 0-0 and the second half would have been easier."

 

[jw5]

The draw for the last 16 of the Champions League has just been concluded.

Water Bottles! Run for your lives! :p




Arsenal have been drawn against Barcelona.

 

[Dodomeki]

Wenger ready for Barca showdown


Wenger ready for Barca showdown

18 December 2010

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes getting past Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League is 'difficult but possible'. Wenger was speaking after the Gunners were paired with the Catalan giants to play each other in the next stage of the Champions League, a rematch of last season's quarter-final.

On that occasion Barca triumphed 6-3 over the two legs but Wenger denies the match will be a revenge mission for his side and said his team have improved since last season. "My reaction is very simple - difficult but possible," Wenger told the club's website.

"I didn't want anybody really, in that all teams would have been difficult. You could have said that Schalke - a team with less history in the Champions League - would have been easier maybe. But the advantage is that we will be on our toes and we'll be ready."

"Revenge is not on my mind. We want to qualify and we want to knock them out. So is it difficult? Yes. Is it possible? Yes." Wenger said while Barcelona - currently leading La Liga by two points - will not be easy, Pep Guardiola's side will not have wanted to draw the Londoners.

"Barcelona are certainly the favourites (for the competition) and a famous team but, on their side, they did not want us either because they know they will get a game," he said. "I think we are better than last year and we have a good opportunity to show that. I won't come out on (how we will make it a different game)."

But with the first leg to be played in mid-February, Wenger admits it is too far away to dissect potential match-ups and speak about how his side can beat Barca. Guardiola said he is looking forward to the ties against Arsenal and said the matches played will be 'very special'.

"Last season we played a great couple of games which was down to the similar style of football both teams play; this time it's also going to be very special," Guardiola said. "We will have to wait and see how the teams are doing when February comes around because our respective form at the moment isn't important in terms of the tie."

Guardiola is well aware of the threat Arsenal pose and said his defence will need to be at their best to keep a powerful attack quiet. "Arsenal haven't got a single bad player, in fact they have several excellent ones like (Samir) Nasri, Cesc (Fabregas) and (Marouane) Chamakh," he said.

"They might not be winning trophies lately but they are always up there with the best. From what I've been seeing they are continuing to play well with their distinctive style."

"They force you to be on top of your game defensively. If you are not at your best they can steam roller you."

The first leg will be played on either February 15, 16, 22 or 23 with the return leg to be played on either March 8, 9, 15 or 16.

 

[Dodomeki]

Arsenal v Stoke City: match preview

By John Ley 6:00AM GMT 17 Dec 2010

Saturday, December 18

Arsenal v Stoke City

Emirates Stadium

Kick-off: 15.00 GMT

Arsenal (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy; Song, Wilshere; Arshavin, Rosicky, Nasri; Chamakh.

Stoke (Possible, 4-4-2): Begovic; Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Collins; Pennant, Whitehead, Delap, Etherington; Jones, Fuller.
Referee: Lee Mason. Matches: 8. R3 Y33.

Tale of the game

Arsenal were knocked off the top of the Premier League on Monday when they lost 1-0 at Old Trafford, but with United playing at Chelsea on Sunday and Manchester City not in action until Monday night, they could return to the summit with a victory.

Stoke last won a league game at Arsenal 29 years ago in the old First Division. Since then, in five visits, they have lost all five, scoring just twice and conceding 16 goals. In total, Stoke have won just five times in 39 visits to Arsenal.

It will not be lost on the Emirates faithful that in the last meeting between these teams, Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross was sent-off for the foul that broke the leg of Aaron Ramsey, at the Britannia Stadium.

Arsenal won 3-1 and Ramsey scored before leaving on a stretcher, and he is now back playing in a loan spell at Nottingham Forest. Stoke lost for the first time in six Premier League games last weekend, at home to Blackpool, but they face a side that has scored 19 home goals (only Manchester United have more, with 25).

Tony Pulis’ side have taken four points from their last two away games but Arsenal have already lost three at home and last lost four home games in the 1996-1997 season.

If Manuel Almunia is ruled out again, Arsène Wenger must decide whether to keep faith with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, after the 20-year-old was preferred to Lukasz Fabianski at Old Trafford.

Cesc Fabregas, introduced off the bench on Monday, could return but Kieran Gibbs, Abou Diaby, Emmanuel Frimpong and Thomas Vermaelen are still missing.

Last season: Arsenal 2 Stoke 0, Stoke 1 Arsenal 3.

Stat of the game: Arsenal been involved in just two draws, the fewest in the Premier League – and none at the Emirates Stadium.

Betting tip: Feeling lucky? Marouane Chamakh is due some goals so try a hat-trick – at 16-1.

 

[Dodomeki]

Heavy snow wipes out most Premiership matches


Heavy snow wipes out most Premiership matches <header id="leadheader" class=" smallimg">

London - The Associated Press
Published <time pubdate="" datetime="2010-12-18 09:08 -0500">Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 9:08AM EST

A blast of heavy snow wiped out most of the weekend Premier League program after the conditions made it too hazardous for fans to attend many matches across England.

Arsenal's home match against Stoke and Liverpool's meeting with Fulham at Anfield were among the four matches that fell victim to the big freeze on Saturday, while leader Manchester United's trip to Chelsea on Sunday is also off.

With Birmingham-Newcastle and Wigan-Aston Villa also postponed, only Sunderland's meeting with Bolton and Blackburn's match against West Ham were due to go ahead on Saturday.

In north London, Arsenal said three inches (seven centimetres) of snow fell over the Emirates Stadium before the referee called off the match and the north London club said there appeared to be “no apparent let up.”

There was also a huge deluge in Liverpool, with the club saying that “the conditions around the stadium and further afield for people travelling to the match” made it too dangerous to allow the Anfield match to go ahead.

Liverpool and Wigan said their pitches would have been playable. Wigan said 10 inches (25 centimetres) of snow fell overnight in the town, meaning “public transport isn't running, there are motorway closures and the general condition of the surrounding routes is treacherous.”

Birmingham cited “health and safety grounds” for the decision to call off its home match against Newcastle, saying that roads around the stadium were unsafe.

Chelsea postponed its home match around 27 hours before Sunday's kickoff after consultation with the police and the local authority.

But West Bromwich Albion's derby against Wolverhampton and Tottenham's match at Blackpool in the northwest on Sunday are still set to be played.

On Monday night, Manchester City hosts Everton.

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